FGT on Autoline After Hours
- Thread starter DoctorV8
- Start date
Indy GT
Yea, I got one...too
Pretty interesting interview with Craig, although I thought John McElory’s ding on the 05 generation was a bit stupid. Our generation interior layout certainly fits Craig’s comment on the new FGT interior- both are “Extremely Fit For Purpose”. You don’t need to decry the 05 generation car just to show “superiority” of the new design.
Each design had a different purpose for Ford.
Each design had a different purpose for Ford.
I agree, we already know that the 05/06 design will stand the test of time. Will the NFGT? Only time will tell.
gtinmyblood
GT Owner
I've heard dings on the '05/'06 several times since the launch of this car. Even Bill Ford made the comment that the previous model was never really designed to race and was "just a street car". He made a comment about that during the Le Man announcement and car unveiling.
Vince H
GT Owner
I think the comparisons between the models are inevitable. It's human nature that what is new design wise is best. Bottom line is they are all GT's and the lineage is apparent throughout the line. I am stoked about the new one and as proud as can be that I own an 06.
Vince H
Vince H
Sinovac
GT Owner
To be fair, his statement was objective and accurate. I love my '06 GT dearly, but the new car hews much more closely to the original GT40 in spirit and concept than the '05-'06 cars. That is, the original GT40 and the new FGT were designed as race cars first and foremost, with retail sales just a by-product of the race effort.
But its true. Ford never planned to race the 05-06. Just the "pace car for a generation"
And homolgation (sp) rules.
I will predict that the NGT will not be anywhere near as "cushy" on the street as 05-06. It will be a raw, loud race car, that happens to be street legal. Similar to GT350R, and the Cobra R's that precede, in the Mustang world.
And homolgation (sp) rules.
I will predict that the NGT will not be anywhere near as "cushy" on the street as 05-06. It will be a raw, loud race car, that happens to be street legal. Similar to GT350R, and the Cobra R's that precede, in the Mustang world.
twobjshelbys
GT Owner
Yes, like the original GT40 and Cobras, they were designed as race cars first and then configured for the street. The Ford GT was a street car first and some adopted it (with major revisions) as a race car. The former strategy leads to a car that is not necessarily consistent for use as a grocery getter (not that the Ford GT was either, but at least it was comfortable.)
The 2005/2006 Ford GT was designed to outperform the Ferrari 360 Modena, the current Ferrari street car at the time, and to represent and showcase the engineering capability of the Ford Motor Company, thus being titled as "The Pace Car for an Entire Company." To this end, they emulated the body lines of the Ford GT40 of the 1960s, one of the greatest racing cars Ford had ever built, and which was known and respected worldwide.
It was NOT designed toward any homologation rules of any racing formula in effect at that time, but rather was designed to meet the 50 state vehicle regulations of the United States (& Canada), including all safety and emission compliancy. Even the Ford Racing Power Upgrade package (P/N M-2005-GT) was not released until it was approved by the EPA for compliancy to emission regulations.
The resulting design, the Ford GT which most us are proud to own, not only achieved it's goal (against the 360), but in fact outperformed the Ferrari 430, the street successor to the 360.
It was NOT designed toward any homologation rules of any racing formula in effect at that time, but rather was designed to meet the 50 state vehicle regulations of the United States (& Canada), including all safety and emission compliancy. Even the Ford Racing Power Upgrade package (P/N M-2005-GT) was not released until it was approved by the EPA for compliancy to emission regulations.
The resulting design, the Ford GT which most us are proud to own, not only achieved it's goal (against the 360), but in fact outperformed the Ferrari 430, the street successor to the 360.
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